The Miniature Schnauzer’s pattern is the same whether stripped or clipped. In the grooming shop, the coat is usually clipped with a close-cutting blade unless the coat is very hard or thin, in which case it is left slightly longer. Clipping with the lie (the direction of growth) of the coat, the blade is taken down the sides of the rib cage to a point about even with the elbows. This lie rises diagonally from front to back, where the loin meets the back leg in the tuck-up area.

The hind legs are cleanly clipped from the thigh to a point above the hock, emphasizing this breed’s musculature and angulated legs. Furnishings on all four legs are scissored round to give a “barber pole” effect, with the feet trimmed round and tight to blend perfectly without the toes or nails showing.

The dog’s jaunty rear end should be neatly clipped and tidy. Hair growth on the butterfly, the area where the hair swirls on both sides beneath the tail, is clipped against the grain. The private area is clipped clean to keep it sanitary and the belly shaved closely as well.

The neck is clipped to a point just above the breastbone. This breed should never sport a big fluffy bib; his lines are short and sharp. Most groomers clip the head against the grain, from the back of the skull to the brow bone. The cheeks are also clipped forward to the corner of the eye, then to a point midway between the cheek mole and the corner of the mouth.

Those fabulous eyebrows are combed forward, then cut at an angle, longest at the innermost point, and carefully blended into the skull with thinning shears. Ears are clipped clean, then carefully trimmed with straight scissors.

The whiskers are shaped at the sides, but the beard should not be trimmed. A knowledgeable groomer will not make it look like a poodle mustache. The head should appear rectangular and the body square. Skilled groomers will adapt the dog’s haircut to show off his good points and minimize his flaws but will always stick to this same basic pattern, whether clipping or stripping.

To locate a good groomer for your buddy, ask your Schnauzer-owning friends, your breeder, or look for a certified master groomer on the breed parent club’s website.

Between Grooming Salon Stop-Ins

Because Schnauzer coats are always growing, most owners take them to the groomer every four to six weeks. Between appointments, your job at home is to keep those feathers (the long fingers of hair on your Schnauzer’s face, ears and body) brushed, so the groomer will not be faced with the prospect of shaving your dog down to the skin. This breed’s hair is so fine and silky that it can become too matted to brush out, especially once the coat has been clipped.

In such cases, the humane thing to do is to clip the coat down and grow it out. An owner’s vanity may suffer, but hours of pulling and tugging a tangled coat on the grooming table is not pleasant for the dog or groomer. Dematting is time-consuming for the groomer and usually costly as well, so it’s absolutely necessary to groom your Schnauzer daily.

Grooming time provides the perfect opportunity for you to examine your Miniature Schnauzer from head to tail, monitoring his health as well as his appearance. Your dog will soon look forward to this special time with you.